Osteospermum plant named ‘Aknik’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Aknik’, characterized by its uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and inflorescences with spoon-shaped purple-colored ray florets.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation; Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Aknik.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Aknik’.

The new Osteospermum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aabyhøj, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Osteospermum cultivars with uniform plant habit and interesting floret colors.

The new Osteospermum originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the spring of 1999 of the Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Aknam, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,602, as the female, or seed, parent the Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Sunny Sonja, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,341, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Aabyhøj, Denmark in 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum by vegetative tip cuttings was first conducted in Aabyhøj, Denmark in February, 2000. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Aknik has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Aknik’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Aknik’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum:

1. Uniformly mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching growth habit; full and dense plants.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Dark green-colored foliage.

5. Inflorescences with spoon-shaped purple-colored ray florets.

The new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Aknam. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Aabyhøj, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Aknam in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Osteospermum had larger inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Aknam.

2. Plants of the new Osteospermum had longer peduncles than plants of the cultivar Aknam.

3. Ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum were purple in color whereas ray florets of plants of the cultivar Aknam were white in color.

The new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the male parent, the cultivar Sunny Sonja. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Aabyhøj, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Sonny Sonja in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more compact than plants of the cultivar Sonny Sonja.

2. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Sonny Sonja.

3. Plants of the new Osteospermum had shorter peduncles than plants of the cultivar Sonny Sonja.

The new Osteospermum can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Pemba, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/291,105. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Osteospermum differed from plants of the cultivar Pemba in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more compact than plants of the cultivar Pemba.

2. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Pemba.

3. Plants of the new Osteospermum had larger inflorescences than plants of the cultivar Pemba.

4. Plants of the new Osteospermum had stronger peduncles than plants of the cultivar Pemba.

5. Ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum were lighter purple in color than ray florets of plants of the cultivar Pemba.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Aknik’ grown in container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves, inflorescences and inflorescence buds of ‘Aknik’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and spring in Encinitas, Calif., in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial Osteospermum production. Plants were grown in 15-cm containers and pinched once. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 24° C., night temperatures were about 19° C., and light levels were about 4,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering plants about 19 weeks after planting.

Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Aknik.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Aknam, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,602.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar Sunny Sonja, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,341.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate rooting.—Summer: About 10 days at 18° C. Winter: About 12 days at 18° C.

Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 22 days at 18° C. Winter: About 24 days at 18° C.

Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Perennial herbaceous container and garden plant. Uniformly mounded plant habit; upright and outwardly spreading; inverted triangle. Freely branching, about twelve lateral branches develop after pinching; dense and full plants. Vigorous growth habit.

Plant height.—About 38 cm.

Plant width or area of spread.—About 58 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Aspect: Initially erect, then outwardly spreading. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Glabrous, smooth. Color: 144B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Number of leaves per lateral branch: About 15. Length: About 5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Irregularly lobed. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous, leathery and waxy. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 146A. Young foliage, lower surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 147A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147B. Petiole: Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 147A.

Inflorescence description:

Appearance.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences held above and beyond the foliage on moderately strong peduncles. Composite inflorescence form, radially symmetrical, with ligulate-shaped ray florets and disc florets massed at the center; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences persistent. Inflorescences face upright or outward.

Flowering response.—Plants flower continuous and freely from the spring through the fall.

Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color and substance for about seven to ten days on the plant when grown in an outdoor environment.

Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering; at one time, about 100 open inflorescences and buds per plant.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Inflorescence bud (at stage of showing color).—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color, ray florets, lower or outer surface: 144A to 144B.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle height: About 1.2 cm.

Ray florets.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: Apex and base, about 4 mm; at indentation, about 2 mm. Shape: Spoon. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Orientation: Initially upright then perpendicular to the peduncle. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 18 in a single whorl. Color: When opening, upper surface: Towards apex and base, 78B; tubular mid-section, 79D. When opening, lower surface: Towards apex and base, 183A; margin towards base, 93D; tubular mid-section, 79D. Fully opened, upper surface: Towards apex and base, 77B to 77C; tubular mid-section, 79D; color does not fade with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards apex and base, 183B to 183C; margin towards base, 93D; tubular mid-section, 79D.

Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five-pointed. Length: About 7 mm. Width: At apex: About 2 mm. At base: Less than 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 54. Color: Immature: More gray than 94B. Mature: Apex: 90A. Mid-section: 87B. Base: 155A.

Phyllaries.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly coarse with tiny hairs. Number per inflorescence: About 16 in a single whorl. Color: Upper surface: 144A. Lower surface: 146B.

Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.75 cm. Length, third peduncle: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Terminal peduncles, erect; secondary and tertiary peduncles, about 90° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Coarse with tiny scattered short hairs. Color: 146A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Stamen number: Five per floret; fused around style. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 2 mm by less than 1 mm. Anther color: 79A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil number: One per floret. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: More gray than 92A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: More gray than 92A. Ovary color: 150A.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Osteospermums has not been observed on plants grown under commercial greenhouse or outdoor conditions.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Aknik’, as illustrated and described. 